Trend of Traffic during Weekdays - Results for Location 1 (Roadside)

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

4.2 Results for Location 1 (Roadside)

4.2.2 Trend of Traffic during Weekdays

Time Total of PCU

Morning (0630 hrs to 0830 hrs) 2620 Afternoon (1200 hrs to 1400 hrs) 3716 Evening (1630 hrs to 1830 hrs) 2523

Table 7: Peak Period based on PCU

4.2.3 Comparison between PM10 concentration, Meteorological Parameters (Temperature and Relative Humidity) and PCU

The Graph 3 obtained was the result for location 1 where the equipment was placed at the roadside for 8 hours from 0600 to 1400 hours on weekday mainly to investigate the relationship between the concentrations of PM10 with the traffic condition. The graph was at peak during the morning time 0600 - 0645 where the average values are in range of 15 – 20 µg/m³. This is due to the heavy traffic in the morning where people are busy travelling to their workplace. The graph 3 then decrease towards 3.5 µg/m³ towards 0800 hours before it started to incline until 1100 hours. The graph was also incline from 1200 to 1300 mainly due to the lunch hour or office break where the traffic was heavy.

The peak concentration from 1200 to 1400 hours was seen at 1230 hours with the PM10 concentration of 13.835 µg/m³.

The Graph 3 was correlated with the PCU graph 4 to investigate the relationship of the traffic and the effect on PM10 concentration. The trend of the PM10 concentration was not exactly following the PCU trend as meteorological parameters which is temperature, relative humidity and wind also affect the concentration of PM10. The average temperature during the morning time was 26 °C and it inclined to 1300 hours which was the peak with the reading of 43.501 °C. Then, the temperature started to decline back to 39.6 °C at 1430 hours. The correlation of PM10 concentration with the temperature can be from 0730 hours to 1100 hours where the concentration of PM10 increases as the temperature increase. This is due to the chemical reaction that vigorously active during high temperature and may lead to formation of PM10 in the atmosphere.

4.2.4 Trends of PM10 Concentration and Meteorological Parameters (Temperature and Relative Humidity) (Weekend)

Graph 5: Graph of PM10, Temperature and Humidity against Time (Weekend)

4.2.5 Trends of Traffic during Weekend

Table 8: PCU Index for Location 1 (Weekend)

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

6:30:00 AM 7:00:00 AM 7:30:00 AM 8:00:00 AM 8:30:00 AM 9:00:00 AM 9:30:00 AM 10:00:00 AM 10:30:00 AM 11:00:00 AM 11:30:00 AM 12:00:00 PM 12:30:00 PM 1:00:00 PM 1:30:00 PM 2:00:00 PM 2:30:00 PM 3:00:00 PM 3:30:00 PM 4:00:00 PM 4:30:00 PM 5:00:00 PM 5:30:00 PM 6:00:00 PM 6:30:00 PM TEMP & RH

PM10 (ug/m3)

TIME

PM10 (ug/m3) Temp ( C ) RH (%)

120 150

227

279 282 267 235218

305 337

366 335

366

328 329 315

254 262 259271 253

290307 304

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

0630-0645 0645-0700 0700-0715 0715-0730 0730-0745 0745-0800 0800-0815 0815-0830 1200-1215 1215-1230 1230-1245 1245-1300 1300-1315 1315-1330 1330-1345 1345-1400 1630-1645 1645-1700 1700-1715 1715-1730 1730-1745 1745-1800 1800-1815 1815-1830

PCU Index

Time (Min)

Time Total of PCU

Morning (0630 hrs to 0830 hrs) 1778 Afternoon (1200 hrs to 1400 hrs) 2681 Evening (1630 hrs to 1830 hrs) 2199

Table 9: Peak Period Based on PCU

4.2.6 Comparison between PM10 concentration, Meteorological Parameters (Temperature and Relative Humidity) and PCU

The Graph 5 obtained was the result for location 1 where the equipment was placed at the roadside for 12 hours from 0630 to 1830 hours on weekend to study the relationship between the concentrations of PM10 with the traffic condition during weekend. The graph 5 started with low concentration of PM10 which is at 0630 with the concentration of 10.75 µg/m³. This may be due to lower amount of vehicle in the morning time on weekend compared to weekday with the total PCU on weekend from 0630 hours to 0830 hours was only 1778 while on weekday the PCU at 0630 to 0830 hours was 2620. The activity of people on the road on during weekend morning is less than during weekday because they do not need to wake up early to go to work or school.

During the afternoon which is at 1200 to 1400 hours and evening at 1630 to 1830 hours, where the PCU trend increased, the concentration shows the opposite trend which is decreasing. From 1200 - 1400 where the PCU was 2681, the PM10

concentration recorded was fluctuated from range of 46 – 54 µg/m³. During evening at 1630 – 1830 hours, where the PCU was 2199, the concentration of PM10 decreased from 48.8 µg/m³ to 28.9 µg/m³.

The results obtained was then correlated with the meteorological parameters which is temperature and relative humidity. From 0630 to 1300 hours, the temperature increased from 24.8°C to 35.905 °C. The concentration of increased from the morning to afternoon from 10.75 µg/m³ to 49.644 µg/m3. This shows that the temperature affect the concentration of PM10 as the concentration will be higher at high temperature as it will encourage more chemical reaction in the atmosphere which leads to the formation of particulate matter that is divided finely that will give significant contribution towards the PM10 concentration in the air.

The average concentration in the weekend is higher than in weekday with the concentration of 42.38 µg/m³ compared to 9.72 µg/m³. The vehicles in weekend is not heavy at the selected peak hours which is 0630 – 0830, 1200-1400 and 1630 – 1830 hours but it is heavy at throughout the day compared to weekday which is the traffic only heavy at the peak hours.

4.3 Results for Location 2 (Industrial)

The location was chosen at the industrial and residence area to study about how the industrial activities and human activities from the residences contribute to the level of pollutant in the air.

There are many factories surrounding the area of location 2. The operation was between morning to evening. One factory was seen throwing out smoke from its chamber in the morning time. It is believed that the work carried out by the factories contribute to the reading of the recorded concentration of PM10. The factories that surround the area of location are stated at Table 10 below.

Industry Scope of work

Industry 1 Manufacturing of electrical and

electronic components

Industry 2 Manufacturing of rubber and latex based

product for condom

Industry 3 Manufacturing of pre-cast concrete

Industry 4 Manufacturing of can and bottle for

beverages

Industry 5 Manufacturing of latex based products

for dental and health applications

Industry 6 Manufacturing of stainless steel

Industry 7 Manufacturing of ceramics for home

decoration

Table 10: Types of Industries at Location 2

4.3.1 Trends of PM10 Concentration and Meteorological Parameters (Temperature and Relative Humidity) (Weekday)

Graph 6: Graph of PM10, Temperature and Humidity against Time (Weekday)

From graph 6, the pattern of PM10 concentration shows fluctuations from time to time.

During the morning time which at 0700 to 1000 hours, the concentration shows inclination pattern from 4.4 µg/m³ to 13.305 µg/m³. This is due to the industrial activity carried out in the morning. Smoke can be seen coming out from several factories surrounding the monitoring location. During the evening time, at 1600 to 1730 hours, the graph shows inclination from 7.33 µg/m³to 16.843 µg/m³. From observation, at this time, the activities from the industry also active which leads to the inclination of PM10 concentration.

The relationship between PM10 concentration and meteorological parameters can also be established. It can be seen clearly at 1130 hours to 1530 hours. As the temperature increases from 1100 to 1400 from 36.4 °C to 41.09 °C, and the relative humidity from 57.87% to 41.09%, the concentration increased from 8.212 µg/m³ to 19.939 µg/m³. When the relative humidity is low, is shows that the condition is dry and dust particle can easily flown by present of wind.

As the temperature decreased at 1400 to 1530 from 41.09 °C to 34.218 °C, the PM10

concentration also declined from 19.939 µg/m³ to 10.27 µg/m³. This shows that in lower temperature, the chemical reaction in the air is slower.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 5 10 15 20 25

PM10 (ug/m3)

TIME

PM10 (ug/m3) Temp ( C ) RH (%)

4.3.2 Trends of PM10 Concentration and Meteorological Parameters (Temperature and Relative Humidity) (Weekend)

Graph 7: Graph of PM10, Temperature and Humidity against Time (Weekend)

During the weekend, the activity conducted by the industry was slower compared to weekday. From observation, there were not many visible activities carried out by the industry. The concentration was only compared to with the meteorological parameters which is temperature and humidity.

The relationship can be seen at 0700 to 1130 where the concentration inclined from 8.174 µg/m³ to 49.99 µg/m³. It is where the temperature increase gradually from 25.63

°C to 34.154 °C and relative humidity decreased from 90.67% to 63.11%. This shows that the high temperature encourage the PM10 concentration to be higher.

However, at the highest temperature at 1430 which is 38.146 °C, the concentration of PM10 was only 36.63 µg/m³. This may be due to the presence of other meteorological factor such as wind speed and wind direction.

The average concentration in weekend is higher compared to weekday with 33.73 µg/m³ and 11.02 µg/m³ respectively with average relative humidity was 74.26% on weekday and 68.04% on weekend.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

PM10 (ug/m3)

TIME

PM10 (ug/m3) Temp ( C ) RH (%)

36 4.4 Results for Location 3 (Rural Area)

4.4.1 Trends of PM10 Concentration and Meteorological Parameters (Temperature and Relative Humidity) (Weekday)

Graph 8: Graph of PM10, Temperature and Humidity against Time (Weekday)

From graph 8, it is clear that the PM10 pattern does not follow the pattern of the meteorological condition which is temperature and relative humidity. The concentration was at peak during morning hour at 0700 with the reading of 15.12 µg/m³. The graph fluctuated. As the temperature increases, the concentration increase and decrease. It does not follow the theory well.

Based on observation, there was a sand factory nearby the area. It is believed that the concentration of PM10 in this location also correlate with the activities from the sand factory. The graph shows increasing pattern from 1530 to 1630. From observation, there were some burning activities from the villagers such as burning dried leaf and rubbish. This activity lead to the small particle and smoke released to the air which may contribute to the inclination of PM10 concentration from 2.13 µg/m³ to 10.714 µg/m³.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16

7:00:00 AM 7:30:00 AM 8:00:00 AM 8:30:00 AM 9:00:00 AM 9:30:00 AM 10:00:00 AM 10:30:00 AM 11:00:00 AM 11:30:00 AM 12:00:00 PM 12:30:00 PM 1:00:00 PM 1:30:00 PM 2:00:00 PM 2:30:00 PM 3:00:00 PM 3:30:00 PM 4:00:00 PM 4:30:00 PM 5:00:00 PM 5:30:00 PM 6:00:00 PM 6:30:00 PM TEMP & RH

PM10 (ug/m3)

TIME

PM10(ug/m3) TEMP(C) RH(%)

4.4.2 Trends of PM10 Concentration and Meteorological Parameters (Temperature and Relative Humidity) (Weekend)

Graph 9: Graph of PM10, Temperature and Humidity against Time (Weekend)

The same condition happened in weekend. The concentration does not follow the temperature and relative humidity pattern. The highest concentration recorded was at 0700 hours with the concentration of 44.04 µg/m³. This was due to the activity conducted by the sand factory that can be seen in the morning which they load the sand to the lorry. For the rest of the day, there were not many activities conducted by the villagers outdoor.

There was one peak in the afternoon at 1200 with the concentration of 35.429 µg/m³. The temperature recorded during this time was 39.32 °C which is also high during that day. The highest temperature recorded was at 1400 which is 41.23 °C. Somehow, the concentration was only 1.801 µg/m³. This shows that there are other meteorological factors that are present such as wind.

The average concentration of PM10 was 11.83 µg/m³ during weekend and 5.93 µg/m³ during weekday with the temperature and relative humidity of 33.69 °C and 66.881%

during weekend and 32.21 °C and 71.26% during weekday. The concentration on weekday is lesser as the humidity is greater in weekday compared to weekend.

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50

PM10 (ug/m3)

TIME

PM10(ug/m3) TEMP(C) RH(%)

CHAPTER 5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The sources of emissions are identified from traffic, industrial and human activities.

The PM10 concentration in the air depends on several factors that include the type of activity conducted, emission from sources and also the meteorological parameters such as temperature, humidity and wind. The concentration vary from time to time and also from different locations. The trends of PM10 were studied by monitoring done at different location in different days and condition.

Besides that, the development status such as the industrial, traffic and human activities also contributed to the PM10 concentration in ambient air. The highest average of PM10

concentration occurred at the roadside which is at 42.38 µg/m³ where the traffic mainly gives big impact towards emission of PM10 and flown the small fine dust at road area.

The second highest concentration recorded was at the industrial area which was at 36.63 µg/m³. This shows that the industrial area also give significant effect towards PM10 emission from the activities they conducted.

Overall, the concentration of PM10 in Tronoh were still under the safe state according to API which sets the safe level at 50 and does not exceed the MAAQG that sets at 150 µg/m³ for 24 hours duration. The objective was achieved.

Throughout the study, it is best if we can obtain the result for a continuous and longer duration. It is because we can compare more data and see more accurate trend of the pollutant in a particular area. Besides that, we can try to obtain data that has been collected by DOE to compare the results with our monitoring. Lastly, it is best if we can add more sites for monitoring so that mapping.

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In document Assessment of Particulate Matter 10µm (PM (halaman 37-48)